Who is the greatest actor in the world now? 5 nominees

The death of Pete Postlethwaite has revived Steven Speilberg’s description of him as “the greatest actor in the world.”

And, yes, he was good — though a bit underused — as a crime boss in Ben Affleck’s “The Town,” though his most memorable role was likely as Daniel Day-Lewis’ father in “In the Name of the Father.”

Speaking of Day-Lewis, he is often touted as one of the greatest actors of our day. Growing up, I often heard Lawrence Olivier and Derek Jacobi named as the best actors. And in earlier times, the Alfred Lunt.

So here’s a completely subjective list of 5 actors who could claim the top spot from the departed Postlethwaite.

Toshio Mifune — Watch him in the Seven Samurai and then in High and Low (two great Kurosawa pictures) and you get a sense of his dynamic range, athletic skill and intensity

Buster Keaton — Watch the General to see his depth of inventiveness and skill

Jackie Chan — Sure, he’s in a lot of terrible American movies, but his Hong Kong pictures rank among the best action films ever, and it is all because of what he can do on screen. All of his dazzling moves are acting.

Denzel Washington — He can do intense-crazy (Training Day) better than anyone (such as Mel Gibson), and he can convey a tough fatherliness that gives Gregory Peck a run for his money. Just try to forget he was in Carbon Copy.

Clive Owen — Speaking of Denzel, his nemesis in Inside Man, Clive Owen, is definitely an actor who can carry a movie. If you haven’t seen Children of Men and Croupier yet, then you haven’t really seen him act.

What about asian actors. If u are a real cinema fan, Check out works of “Mohanlal”. Hez the most flexible actor in the world. Watch his movies ‘pranayam’, ‘thanmathra’, ‘iruvar’, ‘vaanaprastham(pilgrimage)…